Energy Storage, GHG Emissions, Microgrids, Solar - December 5, 2024
Wisconsin School Deploys Microgrid, BESS
The Menasha Joint School District will add a renewable energy microgrid for resilient and sustainable power.
The school district will add the microgrid at Maplewood Intermediate/Middle School in Menasha, Wisconsin, and the system will be the largest of its kind in the state. The system is anticipated to help the Menasha Joint School District save $190,000 in annual energy costs.
Eaton, a power management company, is helping the school build a solar-plus-storage microgrid that incorporates 1.3 megawatts (MWac) of solar PV panels, energy storage and natural gas generators to sustainably generate all the energy required for operations and provide carbon-friendly power.
The microgrid controller and battery energy storage system will enable the school district to manage where, when and how electricity is consumed. The microgrid controller is fully integrated into a switchboard, which is a foundational electrical component used to help power facilities everywhere, making it easier and faster to deploy a microgrid right out of the box. Eaton’s xStorage™ battery energy storage system (BESS) enables the school to strategically store and dispatch energy to maintain uptime and maximize on-site solar consumption to reduce energy costs.
The microgrid is scheduled for completion in 2025 and seeks to achieve net-zero energy status.
"One major goal for the district was to ensure our new facility was an energy efficient and sustainable model conserving taxpayer dollars and natural resources," said Brian Adesso, director of business services at Menasha Joint School District, in a statement. “From project visualization to design and installation, Eaton's depth of expertise and comprehensive solutions have proven invaluable in our journey toward net zero.”
The Menasha Joint School District is constructing Maplewood Intermediate/Middle School from the ground-up to provide a modern and sustainable learning environment that utilizes advanced energy conservation strategies and contributes to regional carbon neutrality goals.
The school district is pursuing Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits to maximize the project’s value. Eaton guided the microgrid design and equipment specifications to effectively address the IRA’s domestic preference requirements.
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